RICH TRIBUTES PAID TO ADIL MANSURI

 

By: Firoz Khan

 

 

Rich tributes were paid to late Adil Mansuri, a noted Gujarati and Urdu poet who recently passed away at the age of 72 at New Jersey, USA, in a largely attended condolence meeting jointly organized by Mehfil Group, a social and cultural organization and Shabdasetu, a Gujarati Literary organization and Hindi Samachar.  The meeting was held last Sunday in North York.  It was presided over by Tasleem Elahi Zulfi, an internationally acclaimed Urdu, English poet, writer, journalist, columnist and T.V. Host.

 

The meeting started traditionally with recitation of quranic verses and translation by noted Gujarati columnist and community activists. 

 

Firoz Khan, president of Mehfil Group welcomed all guests.  He said, “The presence of writers and poets of Gujarati and Urdu in such a large number is the indication of Adil’s popularity.   His countless admirers are in many continents.”  He further said, “I met Adil Mansuri first and last time in 2005 when he came to Toronto.  I was impressed by his ghazals and simplicity.  Let his soul rest in peace and paradise.”

 

Abid Okadia, a businessman, and Gujarati poet said, “Adil Mansuri was not only my family friend, he was in fact an inspiration and guide for many like me.  In fact he encouraged many to write poetry.  Although he suffered a lot in communal riots in 1985 at Ahmedabad, he never had any grudge against anyone.  Despite whatever happened to him he loves his native place and people.  Many of his best friends turned their backs still he loved them all.  He was really a great and a noble soul.  Let Allah give him the best place in paradise.

 

Kishore Patel, one of the founders of Shabdasetu said, “Adil Sahab was a regular visitor to Toronto.  In fact he considered Toronto his second home.  With few friends he started literary magazine Reth.  Due to financial difficulties Reth was about to be stopped, Adil Sahab set outside of mosques and temples for shoe polish to raise funds for the magazine.

 

Mohammed Ali Bhaidu, ‘Wafa’, a noted Gujarati and Urdu poet from Brampton said, “Though Gujarati was mother tongue of Adil sahib he was equally at ease and impressive writing Urdu poetry.  He was a multifaceted personality.  He was an excellent calligraphist and a painter too.  He was the person who made many  cover pages of my web sites and blogs(Bazmewafa Group).  I’ll miss him forever.”

 

Jawaid Danish, a noted dramatist and an Urdu poet who came from Ajax said, “Last Ramadan I had gone to New York to attend a drama festival and receive and award.  I called Adil Sahab on phone.  He told me he will come to New York to take me to New Jersey.  Unfortunately it rained in the evening.  He called me and said he still wanted to come to New York.  I told him not to come driving two hours.  Now I repent for saying no to him.  We were friends for fifteen years.  Because of his beard I used to call him Maulana Adil”.

 

Tasleem Elahi Zulfi, paying tributes said,” He was a great poet, artist, dramatist, calligraphist and above all a great human being.  There was no Hate word in his life’s dictionary.  A few days before his death he wrote my name in twenty different styles in calligraphy.  His death has created a vacuum and his absence will be felt for a long time.  Whenever and wherever there will be mushairas our eyes will be searching him”.

 

Hussain Bhayat, Afzal Khan Nayyar, Yakub Shaikh and others also paid tributes.  Firoz Khan paid a poetic tribute by reciting an Urdu Shayar.

 

Zamanaa bade guar se sun raha thaa,

Hum hi so gaye dastaan kehte kehte.

 

A resolution in Gujarati and Urdu language condemning the death and appreciating Adil Mansuri’s contribution to Gujarati and Urdu literature was read out and passed unanimously.

 

Zamir Patil and Bharat Vyas lent valuable support.